as in sympathetic
allowing a lot of freedom and not punishing bad behavior in a strong way
a teacher who is lenient with students who have misbehaved The public was outraged by the lenient sentence the corrupt banker received.
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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of lenient
In other cases where Gascón has won a conviction or secured a plea deal, sentences have been arguably lenient.
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James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 31 Oct. 2024
Additionally, South Dakota has the most lenient licensing threshold of any state in the country: An in-home child care provider can have up to 12 children before they are required to register with the state.
—Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 30 Oct. 2024
The optimism surrounding Trump's pro-crypto stance has energized the digital asset community, who anticipate more lenient regulations under his administration.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2024
While other cities across Europe and beyond are cracking down on Airbnb, Venice is being more lenient, hoping to persuade tourists to behave better rather than imposing restrictions.
—Julia Buckley, CNN, 25 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for lenient 
James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 31 Oct. 2024
Additionally, South Dakota has the most lenient licensing threshold of any state in the country: An in-home child care provider can have up to 12 children before they are required to register with the state.
—Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 30 Oct. 2024
The optimism surrounding Trump's pro-crypto stance has energized the digital asset community, who anticipate more lenient regulations under his administration.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2024
While other cities across Europe and beyond are cracking down on Airbnb, Venice is being more lenient, hoping to persuade tourists to behave better rather than imposing restrictions.
—Julia Buckley, CNN, 25 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for lenient
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lenient
Adjective
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Some were sympathetic to WBD’s argument that art should be separated from politics.Jake Kanter, Deadline, 19 Dec. 2024
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TikTok clearly hopes that the next administration will be more sympathetic to its plight than the incumbent administration.Todd Spangler, Variety, 18 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Antwon was known for his sense of humor and kind heart, always lifting others up, while Mariana was an incredible soul—compassionate, driven, and full of dreams for her future.Brenton Blanchet, People.com, 14 Dec. 2024
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He is known for his extraordinary and compassionate delivery of patient care and his volunteerism.The Hill, The Hill, 12 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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But the country’s new leaders will also have to look outward, balancing the tangled, sometimes contradictory interests of many foreign powers — some friendly, some hostile, some wary.Josh Holder, New York Times, 23 Dec. 2024
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In a statement, City Manager Brian Saeki declined to comment on the litigation but described the promenade as the centerpiece of a decades-long effort to support local businesses and make the Uptown area more pedestrian friendly.Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 23 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Eventually, the company will miss an earnings target or announce an earnings warning, and, as recent history has shown, the market will not be merciful in its reaction.Charles Rotblut, Forbes, 18 Dec. 2024
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Federer breaks the record of 12 straight finals victories shared by Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe. 2008 — Michigan’s 42-7 drubbing by Ohio State put a merciful end to the worst season in Michigan’s 129 years of intercollegiate football.Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 21 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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Some other adjectives that more accurately describe the situation are patience, understanding, empathetic and forgiving.Stephanie Wenger, People.com, 20 Dec. 2024
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Sure Erdogan is not a forgiving type and Assad’s slight provoked him.Melik Kaylan, Forbes, 1 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Our tasters agreed that there was a pleasant, verdant, peppery aroma.Sam Stone, Bon Appétit, 17 Dec. 2024
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Anyone looking for a pleasant way to take daily vitamins: Gummy vitamins taste good and may feel like a small treat.Lana Barhum, Verywell Health, 16 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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While this impact may take time to filter through the market, for patient investors who understand the current opportunities in undervalued bottles and casks, this more measured market environment could prove advantageous.Mark Littler, Forbes, 23 Dec. 2024
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Be patient with yourself and keep your eyes on the prize!Kyle Thomas, People.com, 22 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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It's made with silica and jojoba beads for a gentler exfoliation and softer results.Benedict Cosgrove, Newsweek, 19 Dec. 2024
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Of course, gentle hydrators like aloe vera and crystalline coconut are also featured for conditioning benefits.Kiana Murden, Vogue, 19 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near lenient
Cite this Entry
“Lenient.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lenient. Accessed 31 Dec. 2024.
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